PSA: The Great Barrier Reef Is NOT Dead | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

PSA: The Great Barrier Reef Is NOT Dead

It's not time to give up; there is still hope for the oceans greatest treasure.

49
PSA: The Great Barrier Reef Is NOT Dead
Shuttershock/Debra James

Many of you may have seen this now viral article circulating from Outside Magazine, "Obituary: Great Barrier Reef (25 Million BC-2016)".

Let's not begin funeral arrangements just yet. The Great Barrier Reef is not dead, but it is dying. To a pessimist, the two are one in the same, but let's be clear, there is still hope. Allow me pose a situation to you. You are on life support, and things look bleak, but there is a chance that you can recover. Would you want your family to just pull the plug and accept the situation based on the worst possible outcome, or would you try?

I'm not going to lie. The reality of the situation isn't pretty. 2016 saw the most sever coral bleaching event on record, impacting 93% of the reef and resulting into the loss of 22% of the reef, with 85% of that mortality occurring in the northern third. But 22% is not 100%. It doesn't take an Isaac Newton to see that.

A brief look at trending news topics on social media platforms and news outlets shows that this emotional, urgency invoking, though sensational article has struck a chord with people around the world. I have begun seeing friends spreading the news, like somewhere in the virtual cloud, some church bells are ringing out to announce the passing of the ancient and magnificent reef. I am at once both excited at the attention it is getting, and terrified that the vast majority of people who see the "obituary" will take the title for what it is. The reef is dead. There is no hope.

Now is not the time to be a pessimist. Now is not the time to kneel in defeat, a defeat we would have brought on entirely though our own selfishness as a species. Instead, I have another proposal.

The Great Barrier Reef, a 25 million year old wonder of the world, is in trouble. It is dying and it needs our help. It needs a grassroots cultural change. It needs to be seen, to be respected, and to be saved. It won't happen overnight, and it won't happen from the actions of one individual. There are many causes to this tragedy, but there are also many efforts to reverse the damage.

Join the effort yourself, today:

https://www.barrierreef.org/

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

181255
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

8155
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453147
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23700
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments